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Sunday, April 15, 2012

John Goes Home

John's fight is over. He went peacefully at 12:26 Friday afternoon - Holy Friday in the Orthodox Church. He was granted something we pray for in every liturgy: a Christian ending to my life, painless, blameless, and peaceful, and a good defense before the fearful judgment seat of God. He was alert until the very end, unable to do anything but look into my eyes; that was more than enough. Jen and I were there, Father Matthew came in time, Sister Nora (the dear hospital chaplain) was with us, and John's favorite two nurses were there. John shed tears while Father prayed, then I saw in his eyes when he left his body. It was everything I could have asked, just 40 years too soon. But that is in God's wisdom, which is much greater than mine - something we should all be thankful for!

Viewing will be Tuesday from 4 to 8 pm and Wednesday morning from 9 to 10. The funeral will be Wednesday at 10 am, followed by burial, then a meal. Everything but the burial will be at St. Mary's Orthodox Christian Church in Goshen. Everybody is invited to everything, so please come if you can!

I am so grateful to all of you for your love, support, prayers, and the thousand things you've done to help us out this last year. We love you all!